Citrus Bergamot Side Effects: What the Research Actually Reports

Written by Amanda Sweetman · Published August 10, 2026

Why This Page Exists

Most supplement pages tell you what an ingredient does. Far fewer tell you what it might do that you did not want.

We sell citrus bergamot. We also think you should know its limits before you buy it, from us or anyone else. So this page collects what the published human research actually reports, including the parts that are inconvenient for us.

What Side Effects Were Reported in Studies?

Mild heartburn is the main one

In the largest trial, 237 adults took a bergamot polyphenolic fraction at either 500 mg or 1,000 mg daily for 30 days.

Researchers described mild gastric pyrosis, which is the clinical term for heartburn. It was reported by:

• 6 people in the 500 mg group
• 11 people in the 1,000 mg group

None of them stopped taking it. [1]

Two things are worth pulling out of that. First, the effect appeared more often at the higher amount, which suggests it is dose-related. Second, it was mild enough that nobody dropped out.

What the review of all the trials concluded

A 2019 review looked at the clinical trials of bergamot published to that point. Its tolerability conclusion was that bergamot was consistently well tolerated across studies ranging from 30 days to 6 months. [2]

That is a reasonable safety signal for a supplement. It is not the same as saying no one ever reacts to it.

Is Citrus Bergamot Safe?

For most healthy adults, the published research suggests it is well tolerated at the amounts studied. [1][2]

But “safe” depends on who is asking, and there are real limits to what the research can tell you:

• The trials were short. The longest ran 6 months. Nobody has published multi-year safety data.
  
• The trials were small to moderate. The largest had 237 people. Rare reactions do not show up in groups that size.
  
• The people studied were adults with lipid levels above the normal range. They were not a general population, and several trials excluded people with significant liver or kidney disease. [3]

So the honest answer is: well tolerated in the people who were studied, for the periods they were studied, at the amounts that were studied. Anything beyond that is an assumption.

Who Should Be Careful With Citrus Bergamot?

If you take any prescription medication

Talk to your pharmacist before starting. This is the single most useful thing on this page and it costs nothing.

Bergamot is a citrus fruit. Certain citrus compounds are known to affect how the body processes some medications. A pharmacist can check your actual medication list against that in a couple of minutes.

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding

Safety data in these groups is limited. That is not a claim that it is harmful. It means the studies have not been done, so nobody can tell you it is fine. Speak with your provider.

If you have a liver or kidney condition

Several bergamot trials specifically excluded people with significant liver or kidney disease, so those groups were not studied. [3] There is no research here to draw on either way. Ask your provider.

If you have a citrus allergy

Bergamot is Citrus bergamia. If you react to citrus, this is citrus.

If you have surgery scheduled

Many providers ask patients to pause supplements before a procedure. Tell your surgical team what you are taking.

Can You Take Citrus Bergamot With Statins?

Ask your prescriber. Do not decide this on your own, and do not stop a prescribed medication to take a supplement.

Here is what the research shows, so you can have an informed conversation:

One 30-day study included a group taking bergamot polyphenolic fraction alongside rosuvastatin. The authors reported the combination was safe over that 30-day period, and noted that longer studies would be needed to know whether it stays safe beyond that. [2]

Separately, the large 237-person trial included a group of 32 people who had previously stopped simvastatin because of muscle pain or elevated creatine phosphokinase. After stopping statins for two months, they took bergamot for 30 days. [1][2]

What that does and does not mean. These are small groups over short periods. They are a reason to have the conversation with your doctor, not a reason to skip it. Nothing here supports replacing a prescribed medication.

Can You Take Citrus Bergamot and Berberine Together?

We could not find published human research testing this specific combination, so we are not going to tell you it is fine or that it is a problem. Neither answer would be honest.

What we can say: both are bioactive, both are studied in the same general area, and stacking supplements without a reason is usually a worse idea than taking one thing consistently. If you want to combine them, that is a conversation for a pharmacist or provider who can see your full list.

Does Citrus Bergamot Interact With Medications?

Interactions are possible, particularly with medications where citrus compounds are already a known consideration.

The practical rule: if you take anything by prescription, ask your pharmacist before adding bergamot. Bring the actual bottle or the supplement facts panel so they can see the form and the amount.

Bergamot Supplement vs. Bergamot Essential Oil

These have different safety profiles and people mix them up constantly.

Bergamot essential oil contains compounds that can make skin more sensitive to sunlight. That is a property of the oil applied topically, not of the standardized supplement taken by mouth. Do not swallow essential oil, and do not assume research on one applies to the other.

How to Reduce the Chance of Side Effects

• Take it with food. Heartburn was the main reported effect,   and a meal is the obvious practical answer.  That being said, best results are when citrus bergamot is taken 30 minutes before a meal.  So if you do not have a reaction to it, please consider this information. 
  
• Start at the lower end. The heartburn reports were more frequent at 1,000 mg than at 500 mg. [1]
  
• Take one new thing at a time. If you start three supplements at once and something bothers you, you will not know which one it was.
  
• Keep your provider in the loop, especially if you take medication or have labs being monitored.

FAQs About Citrus Bergamot Side Effects

What are the side effects of citrus bergamot?

Mild heartburn was the main effect reported in published human trials. In a 237-person study it was reported by 6 people at 500 mg daily and 11 people at 1,000 mg daily, and nobody stopped taking it. [1]

Does citrus bergamot have side effects?

Yes, though they were mild and uncommon in the studies. Mild heartburn or stomach upset is the one most often described. [1][2]

Is citrus bergamot safe?

It was well tolerated across published trials running 30 days to 6 months. [2] Those trials were short, moderate in size, and studied adults with lipid levels above the normal range, so they cannot speak to every situation or to long-term use.

Is citrus bergamot safe for kidneys?

There is no research to answer this either way. Several bergamot trials excluded people with significant kidney disease, so that group was not studied. [3] If you have a kidney condition, ask your provider rather than relying on supplement marketing.

Can you take citrus bergamot with statins?

Ask your prescriber. One 30-day study reported a bergamot and rosuvastatin combination was safe over that period, and the authors noted longer studies would be needed. [2] Never stop a prescribed medication to take a supplement.

Can you take citrus bergamot and berberine together?

We could not find published human research on this specific combination, so we will not claim it is safe or unsafe. Ask a pharmacist who can see your full supplement and medication list.

Does citrus bergamot interact with any medications?

Interactions are possible. Bergamot is a citrus fruit, and citrus compounds are a known consideration with certain medications. Check with your pharmacist before adding it to a prescription routine.

Can citrus bergamot raise blood pressure?

We are not aware of published human research reporting that bergamot raises blood pressure. We are also not going to claim it lowers blood pressure, because that is not what the trials we cite here measured. If blood pressure is your concern, that is a conversation for your provider.

How long do citrus bergamot side effects last?

The mild heartburn described in the research did not lead anyone to discontinue. [1] If something bothers you and does not settle, stop taking it and talk to your provider. That is true of any supplement.

Key Takeaways

• Mild heartburn was the main side effect of citrus bergamot   reported in human trials, and it appeared more often at higher amounts. [1]
  
• Across published trials of 30 days to 6 months, bergamot was consistently   described as well tolerated. [2]
  
• Those trials were short and moderate in size, so they cannot rule out rare or long-term effects.
  
• Pregnancy, breastfeeding, liver and kidney conditions were largely not   studied. Absence of data is not evidence of safety.
  
• If you take prescription medication, ask a pharmacist before starting.
  
• Taking it with food and starting at the lower end are the two practical   ways to reduce the chance of stomach upset.

Where to Go From Here

If you are still deciding whether bergamot makes sense for you, our main guide covers what the research measured and what it did not:

• What Is Citrus Bergamot Good For? 10 Research-Backed Uses

References

1. Mollace V, Sacco I, Janda E, Malara C, Ventrice D, Colica C, et al.     Hypolipemic and hypoglycaemic activity of bergamot polyphenols: from animal     models to human studies. Fitoterapia. 2011;82(3):309–316.     PMID: 21056640
   
2. Nauman MC, Johnson JJ. Clinical application of bergamot     (Citrus bergamia) for reducing high cholesterol and cardiovascular     disease markers. Integr Food Nutr Metab. 2019;6(2).     PMID: 31057945     ·     PMC6497409
   
3. Toth PP, Patti AM, Nikolic D, Giglio RV, Castellino G, Biancucci T, et al.     Bergamot reduces plasma lipids, atherogenic small dense LDL, and subclinical     atherosclerosis in subjects with moderate hypercholesterolemia: a 6 months     prospective study. Front Pharmacol. 2016;6:299.     PMID: 26779019

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This page describes findings from published research and is not medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting any supplement, especially if you take medication, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have a health condition.